Activities and Achievements of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS)
Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS)
The Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti, a farmers’ movement in Vidarbha or the eastern region of
The continued follow up and Jan Andolans of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti has resulted in many success broadly classified as under;
1. Waiver of small farmers crop loans
2. Interest remission to marginal farmers
3. Right to food to the lacs of tribal’s
4. Primary Education to every rural students
5. Farmers packages
6. BPL benefits to thousands of poor families
7. Justice to unwed mothers
The relentless agitations and struggle by the VJAS has given Vidarbha farmers a voice and political identity and helped place the crisis on state and national political agenda.
Activities and Achievements of VJAS:
| Activities and Achievements of VJAS since 2004: i. A PIL was filed by VJAS in 2002 in Nagpur High Court on malnutrition deaths among Kolam tribals. In 29th June 2004 the court gave directions to provide foodgrains, clothes, shelter and health to Kolam tribals in ii. On 19th July 2004, a dharna was organized outside SBI bank, Parwa, taluka Ghatanji, district Yavatmal. Cotton farmers with outstanding loans were not being given fresh loans. Hence the dharna was organised to demand new loans for the farmers and accept repayment of the old loan in instalments. As a result the farmers started getting fresh loans. iii. On 28th July 2004, to demand land rights of tribals in Yavatmal districts. In every taluka an andolan was organised outside tehsil, SDO office. SDO spoke to Collector. Collector ordered the forest department to let the tribals continue farming in the forest. iv. In 2004, VJAS demanded that the government start a ‘Sahukar Mukti Yojana’ after suicide of a farmer in Injara, taluka, Ghatnji, district Yavatmal. v. In May 2004, Rohpat (Tandapod), taluka Maregaon, district Yavatmal, there was an incidence of police harassing Kolam tribals and wrong cases were applied to them. A PIL was filed in Nagpur HC by VJAS to quash the case against the Kolam tribals. ............ vi. In 2004, a PIL was filed in Nagpur HC to give Khawti Karj Yojana to all tribals. To waive off Khawti Karj, to give new loans to them and also cover those who have been left out. The demands were fulfilled. vii. On 1st July 2004, the government announced free electricity to all farmers. This would not help those farmers who commit suicide. Give direct loans to farmers because this would not help them. Give direct help to farmers. viii. In Nov 2004, an andolan was organized to demand Rs.2700/- against government’s rate (which was declared in their election manifesto of Rs.2700/-) of 2500/- for all cotton farmers as MSP. This was done in Pandharkawda cotton market. ix. In Dec 2004, farmers were not getting the payment for their cotton on time. So an Andolan was organised outside Zilla Madhyavarti bank, Pandharkawda. So payment gradually started being disbursed. x. In Dec 2004, a scheme for tractor was started for farmers. There was a major corruption in the scheme and job in Zilla Madhyavarti Bank. So a demand was made to stop this corruption. xi. In 104 Cotton ginning factories in Yavatmal district, the labourers were not getting minimum wages of Rs.82/- but were being given 30-40/-. There were no identity cards, muster, or provident fund being given. Then an andolan was organized at Collector’s office in Yavatmal. Then they started receiving minimum wages and pension. xii. In Dec 2004, there was an andolan was organised in Pandarkawda outside tehsil office, to demand land rights for tribals who have encroached forest and revenue land to give them patta ownership. “Zameenche patte denari Swabhiman Yojana”. xiii. Farmer suicides due to shortage of water, drought and loss of crops, lack of fodder. VJAS has raised the issue. xiv. In 2nd Jan 2005, A land owned by a trust Ruikar Trust in Nanjha, tehsil Kalamb, district Yavatmal was not being used and many farmers, mostly tribals, had been farming on that land since 30 – 40 years. The trust was trying to harass the farmers and evict them. So an andolan was organized against the trust and demand land for the farmers. After that the trust stopped harassing them. xv. In 11th jan 2005, VJAS supported the andolan of business traders who were opposing service tax as this would affect the poor. xvi. Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) was procuring Cotton for the Central government at Rs.1700/- whereas the Pannan Maha Sangh was procuring it for the xvii. In Jan 2005, 12lakhs quintal of cheap cotton was bought by traders from Andhra Pradesh. Because of that local farmers were suffereing. Hence VJAS demanded the Collector that the border of Maharashtra-Andhra Pradesh be sealed to stop the flow of cotton. xviii. Jhari tehsil, there was drought in some 20-25 villages. ‘Gaon tithe Uposhan’ andolan was organized on 15th February 2005 to demand clean water in Gram Panchayats. A memo was given to collector. So Collector took steps to provide tankers, bore wells etc. xix. In Yavatmal in 5 years, 216 layout were made after evicting tribals. VJAS demanded an investigation into these land scams to the Chief Secretary of xx. In Maregaon Van, tehsil Pandarkawda, tribal farmers had taken loans from money lenders. The money lenders bullock cart, bull, and belongings of the tribals when they couldn’t repay loans. Then VJAS took up the case and made a police case. xxi. In 27th February, payment was not being made on time in Vidarbha & Marathwada, by the Mahareashtra government. Hence a demand for uposhan satyagraha was made by VJAS. Then payment started. xxii. In National Food for Work Program, corruption was taking place where foodgrains were being sold in the open market and not being given to beneficiaries. An andolan was organized against it on 5th March 2005. Later foodgrains were being distributed started. Later work was not being started and hence an andolan was organized to demand start of the work. xxiii. A petition was made to the National Human Rights Commission demand for inclusion of Neo-Buddhists in Scheduled Caste in Census in 2005. xxiv. In Swabhimani Yojana where land is given to landless, Dalit and tribal agricultural labourers through Social Welfare department and Tribal Project Office. Corruption in this was brought to the notice of CM. They were buying land at Rs.1000-2000 per acre and telling the government that it is Rs.25,000/- per acre. xxv. About 212 tendu patta ghatak in Vidarbha were not selling tendu leaves as traders were not buying. So VJAS demanded that the government buy it. But the government did not do that. xxvi. Khawti karj andolan.....The central government had given directions to all banks to give loans to farmers but were not being implemented. So VJAS demanded that increase the loans. Later an andolan was organised. xxvii. In Feb 2007, VJAS demanded the Central government that in places where there are no water facilities, Bt cotton should not be grown. Coarse grains should be grown so that farmers can get food as well as fodder for animals. xxviii. In April 2007, Demand for Kolam tribals for Khawti karj and implementation of court order. xxix. In Pandharkawda, a farmer committed suicide after not being able to repay the loan from a money lender. A demand was put before the CM, PM and President to write off the loan and help the widow but it was considered ineligible as the loan was not from a bank. xxx. From Jan to April 2007, 396 farmers had committed suicide. But PMO had declared that suicide had reduced. Then VJAS defied it and presented the correct data. xxxi. In june 2007, VJAS demanded that all loans be waived off. In the last package only interest was waived off which benefitted a very small number of farmers. In 2008 the loans were waived off only for farmers with less than 5 acres and those above 5 acres only 20,000/- was waived off. xxxii. In june 2007, VJAS asked farmers to use traditional seeds and organic manure. xxxiii. In june 2007, National Human Rights Commissions was approached for malnutrition deaths of Kolam tribals. A committee had come. VJAS showed the fluoride water affected villages and Kolam tribal villages. xxxiv. The President was going to come to Yavatmal. Widows of farmers who committed suicide wanted to meet her and tell her the conditions of farmers. VJAS demanded that all loans be written off and be given new loans and give Rs.5 lakhs to the those farmer who committed suicide. The widows met the President and demanded loans be waived off, free education for their children and health benefits. The demand to wave off loans was agreed by the President APJ Abdul Kalam. xxxv. On 18th June Halla Bol andolan for writing off loans and give fresh loans. An andolan was organized outside Pandharkawda Central Bank. xxxvi. 15th August, a Shetkari Wachwa Andolan was organized for Dalit, tribal and OBC. Government and cooperative banks were not getting loans. So they were going to money lenders. They were being exploited by them. VJAS demanded the government that farmers be given loans, be included in antyodaya, and health facilities. xxxvii. The VJAS demanded Nagpur High Court should implement in 10 days the case dealing with farmers suicides. A PIL had been filed earlier by VJAS. xxxviii. In July 2007, a widow of a farmer who committed suicide was given PM package of Rs.10,000/- but the cheque bounced. VJAS raised the issue and finally cash was given to her by the government. Action was taken against 6 officials. xxxix. On 27th September 2007, Khawti Karj Andolan was organized to demand khawti karj for all tribals in front of tehsil office, Pandharkawda. xl. On 2nd October, Gandhi Parishad was organized so that cotton MSP be Rs.2700/- and loans be written off and from the profits of Pannan MahaSangh Rs.300/- be given as bonus to farmers. Widows also participated. xli. Agriculture Price Commission, MS Swaminathan came to meet widows of farmers who committed suicide. xlii. 1 – Agitation for loan disbursement at State Bank of India and District central cooperative bank branches of Pandharkawda, Patanbori, Darwha and Jhari (2008 June-July) xliii. 2 – Gandhigiri Andolan in June and July 2008 for pushing the bank officials to approve loans to farmers. The activists would happily welcome the bank officials at the branches early morning, touch their feet, and embarrass them to the hilt in this unique protests. It moved bank officials faster than our usual agitations to avoid further embarrassment. xliv. 3 – Krishi Parishad, Kinwat (nanded), September 2008 ; A convention of farmers who do not have protective irrigation was organized at Kinwat in Nanded post-loan waiver announcement, mainly to discuss its outcome and anomalies with regard to land acreage condition. The VJAS rallied the farmers who had smaller outstanding loans but could not get the benefit of the complete waiver due to their large land size. It was at this convention that the VJAS rejected the farm loan waiver scheme as unfair to rain-fed farmers and started a debate in the political and economic circles that loans up to Rs 50,000 should be waived completely, a view later accepted by the state government that went on to announce its own waiver of loans up to Rs 20,000 in December 2008. xlv. 4 – Farm widows’ conventions, Pandharkawda, Yavatmal, Bothbodan, Kosara and Karanji (December 2008-March 2009) - The VJAS organized the first convention of farmers’ widows in December 2006, but it was on a small scale. A first major convention of over 500 farm widows from all over Vidarbha was organized in Pandharkawda, the VJAS field headquarters, in February 2009, as a precursor to many smaller village-wise farm widows’ conventions and get-togethers. The VJAS intended to mobilize the widows who are living in abjectly poor conditions with their children. It was important to organize them and bring them together to raise a charter of their demands. The VJAS intends to make it an annual feature to bring the widows together at least once every year so that their problems are heard and they feel they are not alone in their struggle. The convention helped the VJAS to not only mobilize the widows but also understand their land-related problems, among other issues. We now intend to take forward their struggle and demands. xlvi. 5 – Dushkal Parishad, 2009 - Vidarbha witnessed a major drought in 2009. Crop yields were less than 50%; farmers had liquidity crunch at the beginning of the season; the cotton-soybean support prices had not been raised post-election. xlvii. 6 – Road blockade pressing for a rise in MSP of cotton - The VJAS blocked the National high way 7 in the summer of 2007 and 2008 demanding a hike in the minimum support price of cotton. MSP was hiked finally in 2008 May, a year before the Parliamentary elections were due. xlviii. 7 – Drinking water agitation 2010 - The summer of 2010 was one of the most difficult periods of recent times. The two successive years of drought, water mining by mines and farmers, and lack of drinking water supply programme, villages in Yavatmal and rest of Vidarbha had to go miles in search of water. The VJAS held agitations and pushed the districts’ administration and political leadership of the region and state to make emergency plans to provide drinking water to the rural households. xlix. 10 – Agitation against corruption in the implementation of special farm packages: The state and central government announced different packages for the six most suicide-prone districts of Vidarbha since 2005. First came the Rs 1075 crore CM package in the December of 2005; then the Rs 3750 crore PM package in July 1, 2006, followed by the central loan waiver, state loan waiver etc. l. 9 – Food-Fodder - The VJAS also simultaneously launched agitations all over for food and fodder security for farming households during summer of 2010, drawing the attention of the government toward massive food and fodder crunch, and forcing it to open fodder camps in every tehsil so that the cattle could survive the scarcity. li. In the implementation of each of these packages the VJAS stayed alert to massive corruption and anomalies and staged protests all over Vidarbha, petitioned the concerned ministers, and moved the high court when no action was forthcoming. The state government admitted in the legislative assembly in 2008 most of the VJAS charges and suspended a few officials, who were guilty of corruption. |
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hello i am amit kaur puri, good source of information
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